Posted on 10/9/2004, 11:01:45 AM by Bandaneira
Howard on track for fourth term October 9, 2004 - 8:08PM
Page Tools Email to a friend Printer format Prime Minister John Howard was on track to win a fourth term tonight as early results showed the ALP struggling to make any gains.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham needed to win 12 seats going into the election to win power.
But the ALP has lost two seats in Tasmania in a voter backlash against Mr Latham's plan to save the old-growth forests.
Labor was also struggling in other key marginal seats.
Liberal party powerbroker Michael Kroger said Mr Howard had won the election.
"The show's over - John Howard has been re-elected," Mr Kroger told the Nine network.
Labor MP and strategist Stephen Smith said his party lacked the momentum to win the required number of marginal seats to secure government.
"It's grim with a capital G, and trouble with a capital T," he told ABC TV.
Labor powerbroker Robert Ray also forecast defeat for Mr Latham.
"I think at this stage of the evening it's going to be almost impossible for Labor to win this election," he told Channel Nine.
Advertisement Advertisement In the nation's most marginal seat of Solomon in the Northern Territory, sitting Country-Liberal Party MP David Tollner has won an 8.8 per cent primary swing, and he leads by about one per cent with six per cent of the vote counted.
In Eden Monaro in regional New South Wales, Labor's Kel Watt had won a swing of about one per cent, but still trailed sitting member Gary Nairn by about 0.75 per cent.
In Richmond, Nationals MP Larry Anthony was also marginally ahead by about 0.3 per cent with almost 30 per cent of the vote counted.
In the key Queensland marginal seat of Hinkler, Nationals MP Paul Neville was well ahead with 55.2 per cent of the two party vote in early counting.
The results make it difficult for the ALP to make enough gains to form a majority.
Labor frontbencher Bob McMullan said Labor would lose the election if the current trend continued.
"If you drew a line now, and said this is it, you would say it's not enough," he said on the ABC election panel.
"But there's a lot to go, we need to improve."
In the Senate, the Greens have claimed a seat in Tasmania for Christine Milne, who was close to a quota on primary votes.
- AAP
Looks like the Auzzies are still involved with reality.
Yes most Australians are still involved with reality, although quite a few Coalition supporters just might lose themselves in a well deserved alternative alcohol-induced reality tonight.
Good for Mr. Howard! The Aussies are keeping it together and we will too this November.
LOL!
I would love to ask the Aussie's about that in exit polls to see what they think of Kerry and his sister trying to influence a foreign election.
Congrats Mates!
Thank God!
I am sure this got the Dems in America a little more hysterical. It is always nice to see the good guys win and the evil ones lose. Bush/Cheney 2004
Halleluiah!
A bit of good news!
I guess Kerry's International Carpetbagger sister goes down!! Right Arm!!!
You gotta wonder what sis will come out with. I hope she wigs out and says something really stupid - more ammo for W04
Way to go, Australia!
I have so much respect for Prime Minister Howard.
I'm thrilled that the good people of Australia realize what a strong and good leader he is -- the kind of man needed to win this war against the Islamofascists.
Excellent!!
God Bless the Aussies. Great news!
Great news.
Mr. Howard: Good on ya, mate!
Praise be to God and to the voters of our ally and friend, Australia.
May Americans be so wise in their re-election of a true leader in a few weeks.
Prairie
I have been dismayed that President Bush has never mentioned the Aussies when he lists the coalition partners... he cites Britan and Poland, but not Austrailia.
I hope they haven't been offended!
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